A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Masters in Research Psychology, in the Departmnet of Psychology at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2003. / The quality of life of people is often determined by how safe they feel to engage in activities. We are living in a country where the moral order is being-decayed for reasons that can and cannot be explained. This research set out to investigate whether there is an association (if any) between the fear of crime and various respondent characteristics and what the impact of crime has on students' social mobility in different settings. Another reason for investigation was to determine what students' perceptions of safety are in various places. Taking a closer look at what students perceive as the important causes of fear of moving around in Cape Town. A questionnaire was used to investigate these questions. The final sample included 298 students from 4 tertiary institutions in the Western Cape region. The results of the research showed that there is a relationship between student characteristics and fear of crime. It also showed that race was a strong predictor for the fear of crime among students. The research results are similar to previous research that have been carried out about the fear of crime. The research showed that students are affected by the fear of crime and most students fear moving around Cape Town because of a lack of police presence and fear for their personal safety.

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No description available.

Submitted to the Faculty of Arts in fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy in the Department of Criminal Justice at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 1998. / Each individual's personal security is basic to the quality of life of a community. If the quality of life is affected by crime or the fear of criminal victimisation, then both crime and the fear of crime should be viewed as a social problem. The fear of crime is the focus point of this study as it produces changes in the lifestyle of the individual and the functioning of the community. Fear of crime generates feelings of anxiety, general mistrust, alienation and suspicion. At a social level, it can lead to a break down of social cohesion, the curtailment of normal activities and an unwillingness to help others. The study aims at bridging the gap in our substantive knowledge regarding the fear of crime. Through the use of a questionnaire, the study further seeks to establish the following: * Statistically measure and describe the nature and extent of fear of crime. * Determine the factors affecting fear of crime. * Account for the differences and variations in the fear of crime according to age, gender, household composition and type of housing, previous victimisation, crime as a social problem, role of the police and community neighbourhood involvement. * Make non-prescriptive recommendations for the prevention of criminal victimisation that might directly influence the quality of life. Research techniques employed in the study included the following: * Literature study of research done on the fear of crime covering the 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s. * A structured questionnaire consisting of demographicai information and questions pertaining to the factors influencing fear of crime. * Non-probability sampling techniques. * Statistical techniques to test the reliability of the measuring instrument and ten formulated hypotheses. The findings of the study indicate the following: (a) Age is related to fear of crime. (b) Gender is the strongest predictor of fear. (c) Household composition* is related to the fear of crime. (d) No significant differences were found between the type of housing respondents live in and fear of crime. (e) In general, people who have been previously victimised are more fearful of crime then those who have not. (f) Concern about crime and fear of crime are related issues, as people who are concerned about crime, generally fear crime. (g) The role of the police has not proved to be a significant factor influencing the fear of crime of respondents. (h) Neighbourhood involvement tends to reduce levels of the community's fear of crime. The following non-prescriptive recommendations are made: * Improvement of the image of the South African Police Service (SAPS) is a necessity to foster confidence in and respect for policing. * Increased role visibility of the police. * Promotion of effective Neighbourhood Watch Programmes. * Active involvement of citizens in community policing forums. / University of Zululand and CSD

Submitted to the Faculty of Arts in fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree Mater of Arts in the Department of Criminal Justice at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2009. / This study entails an empirical inquiry of the police as a fear reduction agency in two rural communities in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. It is based on data forthcoming from a non-probability sample selected from Mthatha and Butterworth respectively, according to purposive Judgemental) sampling procedures. A pre-coded, dosed-structured questionnaire has been implemented as data capturing instrument. Statistical outcomes are based on the opinions, perceptions and attitudes of 300 respondents randomly selected from those two areas. The study resembles an exploratory, descriptive analysis of dependent variables, cross-correlated with one prominent independent variable: gender and described in terms of frequency distributions. This investigation does not entail a comparative study. The study has two focal points: fear of crime and the role of the police in reducing fear. The safety (physical sense of protection) and security (psychological sense of peace) of each individual is a basic human right in terms of the Constitution, entrenched in the Bill of Rights. Individual safety and security are basic to the quality of life in any given society. If the quality of life is affected by crime and fear of criminal victimisation, then both conditions should be viewed as a social problem. The main objective of the study revolves around expanding our substantive knowledge of fear of crime. The study further seeks to establish whether selected priority crimes contribute to the respondents' fear of crime. Additionally, it is curious about differences in variations of fear of crime measures rating of certain crime measures as a social problem and whether the role of the police is conducive to the reduction of the fear of crime. Research techniques employed include literature study, questionnaire, random sampling and Chi-square test. Based on data contained in statistical tables, the following emerge: • Gender attributes appear to be a good predictor of fear of crime • Selected serious personal and property crimes and previous criminal victimization are posing a threat to respondents' safety and security which may result in fear of crime. • When cross-related with measures of fear of crime, significant differences between male and female respondents emerged; females are more fearful than males. • Acquisition of self-protection measures to allay fear of crime are slightly more popular among female respondents who opted to curtail their movements, leave the lights and TV on, but were less inclined to acquire a firearm. • Female respondents had more positive contact with the police than males and somewhat more inclined to work with the police. Reconsidering mission statements, enhancing police-public cooperation, appointing and training Community Police Officers, etc. are a few recommendations of this study.

The purpose of this thesis is to explore the phenomenon of fear of crime in the context of two highly distinct small town environments: one characterized by extremely rapid population growth due to energy development, and the other characterized by relative stability and slow population expansion. Although in general prior fear of crime research has indicated relatively low levels of fear in rural small towns, the altered social environment of the rapid growth community may result in substantially heightened fear of crime. Using survey data collected from random samples of households in each of the study communities, the relationships between fear of crime and community of residence was examined, as were relationships between fear and respondents' age, sex, length of residence, and criminal victimization experiences. Results indicate substantially higher fear of crime among boomtown residents, a finding which is tentatively interpreted as indicative of more general social disruption under conditions of rapid growth.

Thesis (M. Soc. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 65-67).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 1997. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [282]-297).

Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 65-67) Also available in print.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of North Texas, Aug., 2009. / Title from title page display. Includes bibliographical references.